Lubricating threading tool



Nov. 8, 1938. vl B. wEsTFALL LUBRICATING THREADING TOOL Filed June l,1937 BY was, @M ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES naarPATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

This invention relates generally to the art of forming and cutting screwthreads, and more particularly to a hand-operated thread cutting toolsuch as a stock and die.

An object of the invention is to provide a thread cutting toolstructurally characterized in a manner to enable lubricant to bedirectly applied to the die under the control of the operator in orderto facilitate the thread cutting operation and to reduce wear on the dieto a minimum, as well as to eliminate the present time wasting andineicient method of applying lubricant from an oil can to the work atintervals.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stock and die, one ofthe handles of which is adaped to-form a lubricant reservoir, withsimple and positively acting means therein by which the operator candischarge a quantity of lubricant from the reservoir onto the work asdesired, by a simple manipulation of the `linger as the stock is beingoperated to cut threads on the work, all to the end of greatlyexpediting the cutting of the threads and reducing wear on the dieto aminimum.

A further object of the invention is to provide a thread cutting toolsuch as a stock and die in which the lubricating means-can be embodiedas a permanent part of the stock during manufacture thereof, or can beapplied as an attachment to a conventional stock by the removal of ahandle of the stock and the substitution therefor of another handleembodying the invention.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of thecomb-inations and arrangements of elements as set forth in the followingspecication and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing,

Figure l is a view in side elevation, showing the invention applied to aconventional form of stock and die;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view throughthe body and handle of the stock and showing the invention associatedtherewith;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 and showing another positionoccupied by the working parts of the invention;

`Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure2.

Referring specically to the drawing, the invention is shown associatedwith a conventional form of stock S and die D for cutting threadsronpipe, although it will be clearly understood that (C1. lil-126) `thisshowing is solely for the purpose of illustrating one use of theinvention.

The stock S is composed of the usual elongated body I0 having suitablemeans II for removably holding the thread cutting die D in a position tocut threads upon a pipe when the head is applied to the latter androtated, the pipe extending into the bore I2 of the body and beingguided co-axially of the die by a removably tted adapter bushing I3, allof which will be understood by those familiar with the art.

'Ihe opposite ends of the body are internally threaded to receivetubular handles I4 and I5 in the form of lengths of pipe, which providethe necessary leverage to rotate the die upon the work.

In embodying this invention in the stock and die as above described, oneof the handles I4, for example, is utilized as a mounting or support andprovides a lubricant reservoir I6, the inner and outer ends of which areclosed by plugs I'! and I8, respectively, the former being a force fitin the bore of the handle. The plug I8 is removably tted in the handlebore and is pro-vided with an annular flange I9 maintained seatedagainst the vouter end of the handle by a retainer 20 threadedly mountedon the handle as indicated at 2I and freely receiving the outer portionof the plug I8 so as to bear against the ilange I9.

The plug I'I is provided with a feed chamber 22 communicating with thereservoir through a cylindrical vbore 23 in the plug which constitutesan inlet from the reservoir to the chamber. The chamber is' providedwith an outlet 24 normally closed by a spring pressed check valve 25mounted in a coupling 26 connecting an elbow fitting 2'I at the outlet,with a con-duit 28 extending through an opening 29 in the body I0 intothe bore I2 thereof in a direction to project a stream of lubricantagainst a pipe in the bore, when the lubricant is placed under pressurein the chamber.

Working in the bore 23 is a plunger 30 in the form of an open endedsleeve slidably mounted between stops 3| and 32 on the head33 of aplunger rod 34 to provide a lost motion operative connection between theplunger and rod in a direction axially thereof.r The head 33 and stop 3|are longitudinally grooved to provide by-pass channels 35 between theplunger and head, and the plunger is' beveled at its outer end toprovide an annular valve seat 36 with which the beveled face 3'! of thestop 32 is adapted to co-act in closing the inlet to the chamber fromthe reservoir when the plunger occupies one extreme position on thehead. In the other extreme position of the plunger on the head,lubricant from the reservoir I6 is free to flow through the channels 35into the chamber 22. The seat 36 and stop 32 thus o o-act to provide avalve controlling communication between the reservoir and chamber.

The plunger rod 34 passes through the reservoir I6 and is threaded intoa stem 38 and locked thereto by a nut 39. The stem is provided with abeveled stop collar and extends through ay pocket 4I in the plug I8 inwhich is a coil spring 42. This spring co-acts with the plug I8 and witha button 43 on the outer end of the stem 38 to normally urge the plungerand plunger rod assembly to the extreme position shown in Figure 1,denitely established by engagement of the collar 4I) with a seat 44 inthe plug I8 to seal the joint between the collar and plug against theleakage of lubricant from the reservoir. A removable protecting cap isthreaded on the outer end of the plug I8 to prevent accidental actuationof the button 43 when the invention is not in use.

The operation of the invention is as follows: Let it be assumed thatlubricant has been supplied to the reservoir I6 following temporaryremoval of the plug I8 and partial withdrawal of the plunger and rodassembly from the handle i4. With the stock S applied to a pipe and thenrotated to cut threads on the pipe, it will be clear that during theinterval in which the handle I4 is above the horizontal lubricant willbe free to ow from the reservoir through the channels 35 into thechamber 22, and to ll all unoccupied space therein and in the fitting 21to the valve 25, as the plunger occupies the extreme position betweenthe stops 3I and 32 wherein its seat 36 is clear of the valving face 31of the stop 32.

When the handle I4 is at or adjacent its uppermost position, theoperator presses the button 43 with the thumb of that hand grasping thehandle and thereby actuates the rod 34. As the lubricant in the chamberresists this movement of the rod and plunger 36, the lost motion betweenthe two is first taken up so as to engage the valving face 31 with theseat 36 and thus disrupt communication between the reservoir and thechamber. Further movement of the button will actuate the plunger asshown in Figure 3, to cause the latter to place the lubricant in thechamber 22 under pressure and thus eject a stream of lubricant from-thechamber past the valve 25 and from the conduit 28 onto the pipe directlyin advance of and at the die D, so that upon continued rotation of thestock, the die will be lubricated as it cuts threads on the pipe.

Upon releasing the button 43, the rod 34 returns to the position shownin Figure 2 under the action of the spring 42, it being understood thatthe Weight of the plunger and its frictional Contact with the bore 23permits the rod to move relatively to the plunger so as to restore thelatter to its extreme position between the stops 3| and-32 wherein theseat 36 is clear of the valving face 37, Communication between thereservoir and chamber through the channels 35 is thus reestablished, sothat lubricant in the reservoir will again be free to ow into thechamber to replenish the lubricant ejected therefrom.

When the handle I4 is inverted during a portion of the rotary movementof the stock on the pipe, the weight of the plunger and that of the oilin the chamber imposed on the plunger causes the latter to moverelatively to the rod so as to engage the valving face 37 and thus seal01T the chamber from the reservoir to prevent the return of thelubricant from the chamber to the reservoir. Therefore, each time thebutton i3 is actuated7 a stream of oil will be discharged from thechamber through the conduit 28, until the supply of lubricant in thereservoir is exhausted.

What is claimed is:

. 1. In a tool of the class described, a lubricant reservoir; a feedchamber having an inlet communicating with the reservoir, and a checkvalve controlled outlet through which lubricant can be discharged; amanually operable actuator having spaced stops; a plunger mounted onsaid actuator and having a lost motion operative connection therewithbetween said stops; and valve means co-acting with one of said stops andthe plunger to open said inlet in one relative position of the actuatorand plunger, and to close said inlet for the ejection of lubricant fromthe chamber by the plunger in another relative position of the actuatorand plunger; and means for urging the actuator in one direction.

2. In a tool of the class described, a lubricant reservoir; a feedchamber having a check valve controlled outlet from which lubricant canbe discharged; means ydeiining a bore providing an inlet to the chamberfrom the reservoir; a manually operable actuator having spaced stops; atubular plunger Working in said bore and mounted on said actuatorbetween said stops for movement from one extreme position to another;means co-acting with the plunger and one of said stops for opening saidinlet in one eXtreme position of the plunger on the actuator, and forclosing said inlet in the Vother extreme position of the plunger, forejection of lubricant by the latter from the chamber through saidoutlet; and means for urging the actuator Yto one extreme position.

3. In a tool of the class described, a lubricant reservoir; a feedchamber having a check valve controlled outlet from which lubricant canbe plunger working in said bore and mounted on 5.1

said actuator between said stops for movement from one extreme positionto another; the plunger having a seat, and one of said stops having avalving face co-acting therewith to open or close said inlet accordingiyas the plunger occupies one extreme position or another on the actuator;and means for urging the actuator in a direction to open said inlet.

4. A handle for a stock and die adapted to be secured at one end to thebody of the stock, the handle having a lubricant reservoir therein;means dening a feed chamber in the handle having an inlet bore and acheck valve controlled outlet; an actuator mounted in the handle formanual operation and having a rod extending through the reservoir intosaid inlet bore; spaced stops on said rod; a tubular plunger working insaid inlet bore and mounted on the rod between said stops for movementfrom one extreme position to another; means for opening or closing saidinlet bore accordingly as the plunger occupies one extreme position oranother; and means for urging the actuator in a direction to open saidinlet bore.

5. A handle for a stock and die adapted to be in said inlet bore andmounted on the rod between said stops or movement from one extremeposition to another; the plunger having a valve seat, and one of saidstops having a valving face 4 coacting therewith to 'open or close saidinlet bore accordingly as the plunger occupies one extreme position oranother; and means for urging the actuator in a direction to open saidinlet bore.

VICTOR B. WESTFALL.

